Trunk.



E.'S. FRANCIS.

TRUNK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-7,1914.

Patented J uly 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 51mm nboz Nc un.

"a wnnm Psrsns E. S. FRANCIS.-

TRUNK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-7,1914.

1,191,581. Patented July 18; 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mu l 2/ k; 26'

ms Pz'rzns Damnamrrna. wasnmmmn. n. c.

rnyrr STAS .1

EUGENE STANLEY FRANCIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRUN K.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 19 16.

Application filed January 7, 1914. Serial No. 810,902.

description of the invention, such as will.

enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to an improved form of trunk wherein provision is made fora novel and effective mode of packing dresses, suits of clothing and the like in such a manner as greatly to increase the capacity of a trunk of given dimensions, while affording the utmost security to the articles packed, and making it possible effectively to preserve the desired folds in such articles.

While the invention, broadly viewed, applies to all kinds of trunks, it has certain marked advantages in connection with the wardrobe type of trunk, wherein provision is made for the suspension of garments; and this improvement in its preferred form includes features of construction applying more especially to wardrobe trunks of this character.

Certain further advantages of the invention will more fully appear in the following description.

lVhere any considerable number of dresses or suits are packed together in a trunk there is a decided advantage in packing all those packed together in a common tray with their tops at the same end of the trunk, and, in

wardrobe trunks, this becomes essential. Where dresses or suits are so packed, however, their aggregate thickness will be considerably greater at the top than at the bottom end, so that the entire mass will occupy a tapering or wedge-shaped space. In.

the present invention, advantage is taken of this peculiarity by providing trays or frames in pairs, each being tapered from end to end, and the niembers'in each pair being assembled with the deeper or thicker end of one opposite shallower end of the other.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred form by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a front view of an ordinary trunk provided with the improvement, and

the hinged cover being shown raised, parts being broken away, Fig. 2 is a median section through a tray intended for use as a suspending wardrobe, shown in closed posit1 on for packing, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of such tray shown open for. free access to garments.

The trunk 10 may be of any suitable construction, andis shown provided with cleats 11 for supporting the trays, and with a well known form of hinged cover 12, provided with drawers or compartments, 13, 14:, 15 and 16.

lVithin the trunk are placed one or more pairs of tapering trays 17, 18 placed with the deeper end of one over the shallower end of the other, as shown. In Fig. l, a portion of theside of the tray 17 is broken away to show the hangers 19 and follower 20, adapted to slide upon the rod 21, all in a well known manner.

The folds of the garments are indicated, so as to bring out may be made to act as a base for the tray when placed upright, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

It is to be understood that, where wardrobe trays are used, the kind of hangers, and the means for securing them, either slid ably or otherwise, may be indefinitely modified without departing from this invention. The follower 20 is not essential to the invention.

The trays may either have solid sides, as shown in Fig. 1, or the sides may be a skeleton frame work, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In these latter figures, the back is shown at 22, and the ends 23 and 24 are joined there to. They are also connected at the two sides by braces 25, 26, one or both of which is made diagonal. This diagonal arrangement lends stiffness to the structure.

The particular form of tray shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is provided with the rod 21, intended to support the hangers and follower well known in the art, where such are employed. Of course other means for supporting the hangers are within the invention. These have been omitted from these figures for greater clearness.

When garments are supported within this form of tray with their tops at the deeper end, they will be confined within a wedgeshaped chamber as shown in Fig. 1, and the preferred means for confining the lower and thinner portion of the mass is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This means includes a movable member 27, preferably hinged to the bottom 24:, and adapted to be secured in any man ner against the garments, when packed, in substantially the position shown in Fig. 2. The securing means may be straps 28 at the sides or other means may be employed.

When the tray is used as a vertical suspending wardrobe the member 27 can be folded outward into the position shown in Fig. 3, being there secured so as to act as an extended base for the ward-robe. The means shown for this end includes a brace 29, pivoted at one end to the member 27 and having a pin or the like adapted to slide in a well known manner within the slot or groove 30 on the side of the tray. \Vhen the member 27 is folded outward, the pin on the brace engages under a shoulder 31 in the groove 30. It is clear that, if desired, one of these improved trays might be allowed to remain within the trunk while the same is standing on one end; and could be used as a suspending wardrobe in this position. Either tray may be appropriately fastened to or guided within the trunk without departing from the invention.

The particular materials used in constructing the improved trays, and the specific forms given to the various parts may be greatly varied without departing from the scope of this invention, which is not limited to the details herein shown and described,

save as expressly stated in the following claims respectively.

What is claimed is l. A trunk body and a pair of tapering movable trays superimposed therein with the deeper end of one of said trays over the shallower end of the other, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a trunk body, of a pair of wedge-shaped trays removably mounted therein, the deeper end of one tray registering with the shallower end of the other tray to form a parallelopipedon shape, with a panel hinged to the shallow end of each and adapted to form a tapering box therewith when in the closed position, and to form a pedestal support therefor when swung outward, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a trunk body, of a pair of wedge-shaped trays removably mounted therein, the deeper end of one tray registering with the shallower end of the other tray to form a parallelopipedon shape, with a panel hinged to the shallow end of each and adapted to form a tapering box therewith when in the closed position, and to form a pedestal support therefor when swung outward, with means for locking said panel in the supporting position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EUGENE STANLEY FRANCIS.

WVitnesses:

KATHARINE C. MEAD, Gnonon A. BYRNE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

